An interventional study of Corrective exercises and Neural mobilization in Upper Cross Syndrome, sponsored by Cairo University. Completed at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-09.
Sponsored by Cairo University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Neural Mobilization in patients with Upper Cross Syndrome.
Upper cross syndrome (UCS) is the tightness of the levator scapulae, pectoralis major, and upper trapezius whereas inhibition of serratus anterior, deep neck flexors more specifically scalene, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and rhomboids. This condition is given its name because a cross can be drawn across the upper body. One arm of the cross indicates the tight muscles and the other arm of the cross indicates the inhibited muscles.
People suffering from UCS present with a forward head posture (FHP), hunching of the thoracic spine (rounded upper back), elevated and protracted shoulders, scapular winging, and decreased mobility of the thoracic spine. Sometimes, manual work can cause musculoskeletal disorders, for example, the workers who do their work in awkward positions repeat the same action throughout their workday.
It was found that UCS causes pain among 24.3% of drivers. Also, 35.9% of office workers suffer from the upper cross syndrome and body posture was the leading cause. Housewives were also suffering from upper cross syndrome. The reason behind this is that during household tasks they don't keep a good posture which causes them pain and other difficulties.
Patients complaining of non-traumatic neck pain tend to keep the forward head posture, when compared to people without pain.
Rounded shoulder has been identified as a leading cause of upper quarter pain. Kyphosis, by both clinical and quantitative assessment, causes diminished function especially in tasks that require mobility.
The effect of neural mobilization in various diseases and conditions includes increasing nerve conduction and functional status, decreasing pain and subjective symptoms.
Accordingly, there are no available studies in the literature investigating the effect of neural mobilization on the upper cross syndrome, therefore this is the purpose of the study.
33 studies on the registry are indexed under Oculocerebral hypopigmentation syndrome type Preus; 19 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 60 is above the median of 48 across 31 interventional studies indexed under Oculocerebral hypopigmentation syndrome type Preus.
Browse Oculocerebral hypopigmentation syndrome type Preus studies →Cairo University is the lead sponsor of 4,780 studies on the registry; 1,427 are open to participants now.
Of its 36 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 5 (14%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
They will receive neural mobilization in addition to corrective exercises for UCS, 3 times per week for 6 weeks.
Other: Corrective exercises · Other: Neural mobilization
They will receive corrective exercise for UCS, 3 times per week for 6 weeks.
Other: Corrective exercises
The corrective exercise program will include various positions: in standing, scapular retraction and arms overhead; in sitting, chin tuck and thoracic extension; in supine, arms in a W shape and horizontal abduction with external rotation; in side-lying, forward flexion starting with arms parallel to the body; and in prone, scapular retraction and depression in a T shape, extension from 90° forward flexion, and horizontal abduction at 90° with external rotation. Exercises will start with three repetitions held for 10 seconds and progress to six repetitions held for 25 seconds, based on overload principles and individual needs. Participants experiencing pain may stop and rest until symptoms subside.
Median nerve mobilization will be performed with the patient in a supine position, shoulder abducted to 90°, elbow flexed at 90°, and both wrist and head in a neutral position. The therapist will mobilize the nerve by extending the elbow to 45°, while the patient performs ipsilateral cervical lateral flexion to unload the nervous system.
Forward head angle
The forward head angle between the line connecting the tragus and C7 with the perpendicular line will be measured for all participants in both groups pre- and post-treatment, using the photogrammetric method.
Time frame: 6 weeks
Rounded shoulder angle
The rounded shoulder angle between the line between the acromion process and C7 with the perpendicular line will be measured for all participants in both groups pre- and post-treatment, using the photogrammetric method.
Time frame: 6 weeks
Kyphosis angle
For the kyphosis angle, the bone marker on the spinous process of C7 will be used as the starting point of the arch and the spinous process of T12 will be used as the endpoint of the arch. It will be measured for all participants in both groups pre- and post-treatment, using the photogrammetric method.
Time frame: 6 weeks
Boston Questionnaire (Arabic version)
The Boston Questionnaire is a patient-reported outcome measure that has demonstrated reliability, validity, and responsiveness to both surgical and non-surgical treatments. The Arabic version has also been shown to be reliable and valid among Arabic-speaking patients. The questionnaire consists of two separate scales: the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), which includes 11 questions, and the Functional Status Scale (FSS), which includes 8 items. Respondents rate the difficulty of each item using a five-point scale. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity or functional impairment.
Time frame: 6 weeks
This study is completed, as verified in Jan 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Cairo University